Thursday, May 9, 2013

Proof Positive! It's a ... !

Yesterday was a day of glowering cloudsand pounding rain.

I went on a hunt for a new camerato no avail,and I got to drivehome in lashing rain. Before the skyopened up.<<<So this morning I dasheddown to Piney Creek to check on the water levelswith my trusty old camera.

You should have seen the look on the camera store clerk's facewhen he saw how beaten upmy little Canon PowerShot was.All the settings have worn off!It's had a hard life tossed into stuffed purses and backpacks and working in all kinds of weather.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Scream.jpg

I'm always insecurewalking under this old cottonwoodafter a storm.The second tree, in the middle foreground,came crashing down ~over the path ~during a storm some years ago.Park rangers had to cut awaybig branchesblockingthe path.I always thinkWill I be able to run,if it starts to fall?

This massivecottonwood,(of which yousee onlythe center portion)would flatten me like a trainrunning over a penny on a railroad track.Do you seehow thecorrugated barksoaks up the rain.Some areas,less wet andmore sheltered,are light grey.You can seethe fallencottonwood in the background.

Splat!This tree keeled over last night!

When you get a good rain,temporary ponds form in low areas.There are berms and catchment basinsalong Piney Creekto control runoff from sudden rains.I was standing on a large bermwhen I took this next picture.Normally this area is dry.I have seen much bigger flood pondsimpounded behind this berm.

Yes!

The male cottonwoods are beginning to flaunt their catkins!

Cottonwoods are dioecious,

meaning either male or female.

Both sexes flower in the spring

before they produce leaves.

The males flower somewhat before the females.

Both sexes form clusters of flowers in catkins.

These are male catkins.

See their flashy burgundy flowers starting to bloom.

Male Catkins

These are female catkins.

Their green flowers are larger than the male flowers.

Female Catkins

Soon it will be time for cottonwood sex in the park!

More to come!!!

Meanwhile I thought of that cottonwood

I posted on last fall.

Male? Female?

Time to check it out!

I hummock hopped

across the soggy ground

to that tree

I had photographed thoroughly

months ago.

It had toppled over

long before I ever turned up

in this neighborhood.

Sweet little robin

singing its heart out!

Boy or girl?

Can you tell?

The tree ~ not the robin!

This old giant has acquired a vibrant coat of green since I stopped by last November!

You are so right, Barb! I've seen the cotton fluff in small drifts in my park! Fortunately I don't get hay fever! A foot of snow in Breck! My sister-in-laws baby trees will love it. Her home is by that big slashed area you can see so well across the valley from Boreas Pass Trail. She lives in India and rents her home out to skiers. You live in one gorgeous spot on this earth!

Sex and Cottonwoods? Oh, my, what is this blog world coming to?!Don't you just love seeing things spring to life?! I love walking through the yard, and driving through the neighborhood to see everything that pops out each day.

Thanks OE! I'm so happy to hear that you liked the robin. He looks so small and sweet, bravely singing his spring song on a cold, cloudy day! I like the unzoomed, this is how I see it pictures, sometimes.

Never-the-less, I'm determined to get a better camera because I'm often frustrated by the limitations of mine. I drove to a local and big camera store a few days back to purchase one with their Mothers Day flyer ~ and they didn't have the camera in stock! Nor would they honor their sales price when the camera came in ~ after the sale was over! Then I had to drive home in lashing rain for 35 minutes! Arrggghhhh! All in my quest to get better bird pictures!

Thanks for the squirrel comment. I've had so much fun with that. I tried your blogging technique of asking a question! have a good one!

Lovely and so funny! You naughty girl! Anyway, I'm not sure I want you to get a new camera but if you insist, just promise you won't throw the old one away. Something magic in the old girl? boy? (Did you check?)

Oh Francie! You found me out! I do have a little naughty streak! I usually keep it well-hidden, but this blog is bringing it out! I will keep my old camera. LOL, but the camera is a girl!!! Absolutely ~ a good girlfriend who keeps me honest!I hadn't thought about it until you asked! We're so in tune, she knows what I think before I say anything. Have a good one!

You are one of the hardest people in the world to sway, even with solid evidence, Sis! But it's a squirrel!!! LOL right back at you. When I get back from Hawaii, I have an idea about how we can be walking buddies thousands of miles apart. I wish you could down into the park today and check out squirrels!

Hi Laeli! The trees look different every day! And sometimes they are as creepy as a walk in a graveyard on Halloween. Other times they are glorious. I'm very fond of trees. I'm glad I didn't get squished either. I think about it every time! Have a good one!

Interesting way to display your trees a bit of tease..but, I am sure all were pleased with what they've seen. That big cottonwood would look splendid in bloom. I like the way it twists and turns one can see a lot in a tree.

Hee hee, sweet squirrel! I LOVE the pictures in this post! The grey skies, the grassy expanse -- beautiful -- I can almost smell the air! We get rain like that here, and it's so welcome. Your camera sounds like mine lol

When the cottonwood starts blowing Mr. M and I start sneezing ... I do hope this doesn't mean we're allergic to you know what. :)

A few years ago during a horrendous spring storm, a hundred-year old maple rolled out of the ground and crashed on the upper story of the house where we live. I'm a little paranoid about trees myself when the ground gets soaked (though extremely fond of them in general).

A hundred year old maple tree would be huge! One of my earliest memories was of Hurricane Hazel which uprooted giant chestnut trees across the street ~ when I lived in Prince Edward Island. Of course, I mostly remember it because the Tooth Fairy couldn't fly, and she had to pick up my tooth one day late! In our park sometimes the cotton fluff looks like snow! I hope that you are enjoying Mother's Day!

I love the cottonwoods for their bark and their "cotton", but poor Paj is allergic to them. Lucky for us, no cottonwoods on the ranch!Good luck with your camera search - it will be interesting to see what you end up with.

Hi Terry! I didn't know that horses were allergic to things like cottonwood trees! Poor Paj! I hope there aren't other things that he's allergic to, especially at his home. I'm off again tomorrow looking for a new camera. Hawaii is getting very close! Have a happy week!

Thanks for the funny and kind comment, Ron! I have so many irons in the fire right now! I've been taking photos for a possible children's nature book on Piney Creek, and when I do it there will be cottonwood trees! In reproductive action ~ but I might have to go with a different title! LOL